My Night With The Amazing Acro-Cats and Rock-Cats!

Dakota on drums

I've been longing for the chance to see The Amazing Acro-Cats and The Rock-Cats, live and in the fur, ever since seeing their segment on Animal Planet's Must Love Cats back in 2011. 

Unfortunately, the Chicago-based troupe doesn't get out to the East Coast very often, but when I heard they were doing a stint this past weekend at The Painted Bride Art Center in Philadelphia, I knew I had to go!



The traveling cat circus is the brainchild of animal trainer Samantha Martin, who takes her fantastic felines around the country, to show off their skills and teach the benefits of clicker training. 

The spectacle consists of one part circus act and one part rock show, where cats jump through hoops, balance on balls, and "The Rock Cats" take the stage while playing their tiny instruments. All of the purrformers belong to Martin, and many of them are rescues with touching stories, as she relays during show.


Tuna says we need moar cowbell!

In addition to cats, Martin's menagerie includes rats, a groundhog, and two very brave chickens. She also brings foster kittens on the road to help get them adopted (she's placed over 100 to date), and they get in on the act, too.


Yes, that's a chicken!

Each performance is a unique event based on the unpredictability of cats, and audience members are encouraged to wear kitty ears to get in the mood (or, "to hear the show twice as well"). After the crowd got warmed up, The Acrocats took the stage, headed by a sleek black feline named Buggles:



Everyone cheered as Pudge jumped through a hoop:



And this kitty was on a roll...literally!



The kitties clearly work on their own schedule, and sometimes it was even funnier when things didn't go exactly according to plan:



There was also a rousing match of Groundhog vs. Cat bowling. I was rooting for Tuna, but in the end they called it a draw when both parties failed to make the spare:



The highlight, and most eagerly anticipated part of the show for me was seeing my favorite band, The Rock Cats!





The trio was accompanied by a chicken on cymbals, and of course, Tuna, who is always there to provide more cowbell!



I had so much fun, and was excited to finally make my Rock Cats dreams come true. If the troupe is ever in your town, I highly recommend checking them out for a unique experience, that's purrfect for the whole family!

Their next tour stop is July 17-20 at The Griffen Theatre in Salem, Massachusetts, followed shortly after by their Canadian debut. Visit circuscats.com to get the full schedule and ticketing information. You can also follow Buggles and Tuna on Twitter, and like them on Facebook here.

My Night With The Amazing Acro-Cats and Rock-Cats!

Help The Amazing Acro-Cats And Rock-Cats Make Their Purr-fect Tour Bus Dreams Come True

Amazing Acro-Cats and Rock-Cats Purr-fect Tour Bus

You know the phrase "herding cats"? Well, Samantha Martin, founder of The Amazing Acro-Cats and Rock-Cats, does just that with her touring troupe of rescued house kitties who wow crowds with their ability to push carts, ride skateboards, turn on lights, walk tight ropes, play instruments, and much more. Most of the cats in Samantha's show are orphans, rescues, or strays, and the group also take fosters on the road, where they have found homes for nearly 90 cats and kittens to date.

Martin, who has been training animals since she was ten, started the group 7 years ago. She uses clicker training to condition the cats, which relies on using positive reinforcement. In addition to providing entertainment, the show is meant to demonstrate what cats are really capable of. Martin says, "By training your own feline, many behavioral problems can be prevented while also providing physical exercise and mental stimulation. Plus it's a great way to spend some quality time with your kitty."

Now, the Amazing Acro-Cats and Rock-Cats are looking to the public for help in continuing their mission. Their current tour bus is falling apart, so they created a Kickstarter campaign to raise $28,000 to help purchase and refurbish a larger and safer vehicle. They have plans to gut a retired tour bus and turn it into a cat paradise, that will include cat walks, cat trees, and a permanent nursery/foster area, "so even more little kittens will have the chance at a forever home."

Like most Kickstarter initiatives, there's a huge range of rewards for those willing to make a pledge. For the minimum amount of $12, patrons will receive a bumper sticker that says "I helped build the Cat-mobile!" and a Tuna and the Rock-Cats postcard, while larger donations net awesome gear like a Cat Training Kit, assorted Rock-Cats merch, tickets to upcoming shows, and my favorite -- the chance to have Tuna (aka "The Star") write you letters from the road!

While the campaign is meant to signify a fresh start for the animal collective, it's also tinged with sadness. The cat bus project is dedicated to the memory of the Rock-Cats' beloved kitty guitar player, Pinky, who lost her battle to breast cancer late last month.

To learn about The Amazing Acro-Cats and The Rock-Cats, visit their website or Kickstarter page for more information.

Help The Amazing Acro-Cats And Rock-Cats Make Their Purr-fect Tour Bus Dreams Come True

The Amazing Acro-Cats Documentary

The Amazing Acro-Cats from Brett Whitcomb on Vimeo.

Samantha Martin knew she wanted to be an animal trainer since she was 7, and it was that continued passion as an adult that led her to the creation of The Amazing Acro-Cats.

The traveling show consists of one part circus act and one part rock show, where cats jump through hoops, balance on balls, and "The Rock-cats" take the stage playing tiny instruments. All of the "performers" belong to Martin, and many of them are rescues.

Each performance is a unique event based on the unpredictability of cats, and audience members are encouraged to wear kitty ears to get in the mood. This short documentary, shot by Brett Whitcomb and filmed at Super Happy Fun Land in Houston, Texas focuses on Samantha's unique lifestyle, and her talented troupe of kitties.

To learn more about The Amazing Acro-Cats, visit their website at circuscats.com, or follow them on Facebook to find a show near you. I've heard they're really great, and have my paws crossed for some East Coast tour dates!

The Amazing Acro-Cats Documentary